Brough, Caithness
| Brough | |
| Caithness | |
|---|---|
 Brough Slipway | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | ND222733 |
| Location: | 58°38’28"N, 3°20’28"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Thurso |
| Postcode: | KW14 |
| Dialling code: | 01847 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Highland |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross |
Brough is a small village, with a population of just 66, in Caithness. It is the most northerly village on the mainland of Great Britain and is to be found on the B855 single-track road (the most northerly numbered road on the mainland), a few miles to the south-east of Dunnet Head, the most northerly point on the British mainland, and a mile or so north of the village of Dunnet.
Brough is the site of Brough Castle, a 12th Century Norse fortress; the ruins are on the property now known as Heathcliff.
The village has a bus stop. Brough harbour, a short distance to the north of the village, now little used, faces Little Clett rock, a small islet that shelters the harbour from the north.
To the south of the village lies St John's Loch, reputedly a very good brown trout loch.
Name
The name Brough is pronounced to rhyme with the word loch (in contrast to the Westmorland town of Brough, which is pronounced to rhyme with rough).
The village's name comes from 'Broch', the name of the ancient northern form of circular fortification found in the northernmost counties and the islands. the remains of at least one broch exist in the area around the village.
Wildlife
The village, and the area, are popular particularly with birdspotters, providing opportunities to see many puffins (at Brough Harbour) and Great Northern Divers among others.